.

After a few off forum discussions this seems to work pretty well.
 
Wild Atlantic Way is not really an iron butt route. In fact I have done it like that in a car and its horrible done that way. Traffic speeds on it are slow and its peak tourist season with a lot of US visitors are who used to driving on the other side of the road.

From comments made and experience gained just putting this up to see what comments come.

If anyone wants to fall in for some of it even better. Reg knows a lot of nice places on the route and may well be worth going off the route and exploring these. No need really to book anywhere, leaves us good flexibility to adjust according to where we want to go and for numbers.

Saturday arrival.
1 From Dublin arrive Dublin ferry port about 5.30pm. Take M1 NORTH/Airport/Belfast from the port, meets the M50, take exit for M50 and take M50 west/south, goes anti clockwise, after about 12 minutes you meet exit for N7/M7 [signed for Limerick, Cork etc], take exit on to M9 [signed for Waterford], exit at Junction 9 [Stoneyford] on the M9 and head toward Stoneyford. For anyone doing this there is a crossroad junction just before Stoneyford I will send a photo of, you take a left at the old church [or have a beer at the quaint pub/shop opposite] and it brings you past the entrance to Nore Valley Park. Its as simple as that. Its about 90 minutes.
Petrol: After you come on to N7/M7 there are some petrol stations on your left. If you are full coming off the ferry or fill up here you have enough. Petrol station at Bennettsbridge open Sunday so don't bother stopping for more.

2 From Rosslare. Take N25 [signed for Cork/Limerick/Waterford] up to New Ross, then head for Thomastown, Bennettsbridge. Travel time much the same. 88KE has suggested a meet up at New Ross as that's an option for him.
Petrol: About 5 miles off the ferry, on your left.
Both options get you there for around 7.30pm. Those of us there earlier will set up BBQ.

Sunday.
Outing? Hook Head, Kilmore Quay etc an option and not too long with some nice places. Get food for BBQ on the way back.

Monday.
Head off towards Wild Atlantic Way but down through Lismore, the Vee, maybe Glen of Aherlow etc, Cork on to Bantry to Eagle Point camp site. Its on the waters edge and has an excellent supermarket/petrol station opposite the entrance. Eat in or go about 3 miles west to Glengariffe.

Tuesday.
Take in Glengarriffe, Healy Pass, Kenmare, Ring of Kerry, on to Dingle peninsula and Slea Head Drive. Stop to be decided later.

Wednesday.
Complete Dingle peninsula, up to Tarbert, take the Shannon ferry over to Killimer, west coast of Clare and on towards Cliffs of Moher. Explore a little and camp wild at Fanore. Pick up food en route for BBQ...

Thursday.
Complete the Burren coast Kinvarra, Galway and Connemara Leenane etc up to Westport/Achill.

Friday.
Westport/Achill back to Nore Valley. BBQ etc at Nore Valley.

Saturday.
Eccentrics meet up 9.30am at Stradbally Fayre. [Petrol station beside it] 50 mins from Nore Valley and a nice run. For anyone heading back via Dublin this gives a nice leisurely route back to the ferry. About 90 mins ride time.

Sunday.
Departure from Nore Valley, for ferry, home or whatever.


Update 17 March 2015: Saturday 1st August at Nore Valley.
Pat O'D
Becky
Born Again Eccentric
92KK
88KE
Bjorn?
Tom Foley?
JediGirl?
Sagi?

Olaf,

Excellent plan - some really good sections that are easily manageable and I'm glad to see it includes the Healy Pass (a chance to right my wrong from last year) and the WAW north of Dingle.  It would be great if we can get a good size group of Irish Eccentrics (and interlopers) along for the whole week, but as you say, there is plenty of opportunity for people to drop in / drop out along the route. 

The big photo op is Stradbally Fayre on the Saturday - a chance to get as many K's together as possible and put some real (friendly) pressure on our Aussie brothers & sisters!!!!

I'll probably be in for the week! Need someone to follow as your crazy road signs are in km rather than mph and I may forget that :p

Becky wrote:I'll probably be in for the week! Need someone to follow as your crazy road signs are in km rather than mph and I may forget that :p

No, Becky, the crazy signs are the ones in mph. Though at least the Irish and British drive on the correct side of the road. 

Bill

indian036 wrote:No, Becky, the crazy signs are the ones in mph. Though at least the Irish and British drive on the correct side of the road. 

I never really understood why the UK stuck to miles and managed to still keep selling beer by the pint (a proper 20 fluid ounce pint) etc. when we made the switch from imperial to metric (SI) units back in the 70's after joining the EEC.

OK, so it would have cost a bit to change every road sign to km and kph, and there would be issues with vehicles & bikes having had speedos reading the wrong units (on the major scale)...but now nearly 40 years on it would have made life much simpler. 

Us kids of the 60's were well and truly cross threaded by the change (as well as by the decimalisation of our currency) but here we are still cross threading our kids and causing confusion with a mixture of units. 

I am more than happy to drink Guinness by the litre!!

Becky won't ride out front? Wonder why!!

Some things never changed. Beer still comes in pints!

Becky wrote:........ your crazy road signs are in km rather than mph and I may forget that :p

Ah! The national speed targets


 ......I have a successful track record of exceeding these targets on occasion 

I'm so good at it they sent me my protrait photo in the post for just €60!!

88KE wrote:
I'm so good at it they sent me my protrait photo in the post for just €60!!

Doh!! 

Cheaper than school photographs though...maybe there's a business opportunity for our lovely law enforcement folk out there?

With the son in law today. Speed limit: 110km/h. Speed: ~180km/h! Not even trying in the 540i. 

Bill

As my uncle would say: in a civilised country there is no need for a speed limit on the motorways. Who can't, won't.

Björn wrote:As my uncle would say: in a civilised country there is no need for a speed limit on the motorways. Who can't, won't.

Many good things about Germany, including some lovely friends. Autobahns are definitely in that list as well. Handy that daughter's family lives so close to it.  
Handy also that said son in law has had a succession of high performance toy cars. 

Bill

Well Bill, even the name Rodemack would show they are not quite French... I reckon you wouldn't find two dozens of men in Lotharingen and Elsaß who don't speak German as well as French. Riesling from Elsaß / Mosel is great, even if titled as "French" wine from Alsace (or even Moselle)

Björn, son in law was born and grew up in Provence, but his surname indicates Italian heritage though it was apparently a good many generations ago. 

You must be right about Rodemack not being a proper French name. Isn't every French village called St something?

Bill

Rodemack (Rodemachern) is as French as Cork (Corcaigh) is English - easier to use, remember and pronounce for the governing authorities.

What I see is the beauty of the European Union though, that people can move and live anywhere, no real boundaries and no one really bothers them about where they come from. Elsaß-Lotharingen / Alsace & Lorraine are beautiful areas, I just love them, also for the mix of German and French cultures there.

I'd never heard of Rodemachern. Surprising in some ways, as many places around here have dual place names such as Evrange/Ierwrengen. Further West, Ypres/Ieper etc etc. Rodemack is only ever signed that way here.
Alsace is a very distinctive part of France, particularly in that the exterior of the houses and their gardens are in general much better kept than many places where the natural grey stone dominates the exteriors, with varying degrees of decay and rough repairs. Not universal, of course.
Some interesting ironies in the alternate German/French heritage. Haut-Koenigsbourg castle with its German name, restored to a large extent by Kaiser Wilhelm II before the great war when Germany had the ground, French after the great war with an interlude from 1939-1945 and today proudly flying the French flag but with a German imperial eagle on a rooftop as well.

As you say, Bjorn, one of the beauties of the European Union.

I'd also forgotten until recently that Ireland uses the Euro. How does that go in practice with the GBP in the north and with the open border mentioned before in this thread. Do people/businesses near the border deal with both?

Bill

Many businesses in the north will take either denomination. We're not proud.
That's money, not which foot you kick with, as they say in the north.
As I live close to the border, I tend to carry a 20 Euro note in my wallet and a pocket of coins for my day trips. It's also easy enough to use a credit or debit card to pay for things or draw cash from a hole in the wall.
More confusing is that we still use MPH on our roads in the north.
Still think 100 miles an hour has a more magical ring to it than 160KPH(?).
That's usually the speed I cross the border at.

Comberjohn wrote:
More confusing is that we still use MPH on our roads in the north.
Still think 100 miles an hour has a more magical ring to it than 160KPH(?).
That's usually the speed I cross the border at.

My early days of driving were in the mph time in Oz, so I also remember the idea of the magic ton as it was known. For me at the time it was only an idea, though. No suitable vehicle available for me even if I was game to try. Capable vehicles since, but they tend to frown on it to the extent of $1800 plus instant loss of licence!
That said, a couple of brief times on the K, but mostly in son in law's toy car on Autobahns.

Bill

That's what I just did.... came down from Cashel to Cork in about 45 minutes, happily without breaking the speed limit just to realise the bloody speedo was in mph....

Björn wrote:Rodemack (Rodemachern) is as French as Cork (Corcaigh) is English - easier to use, remember and pronounce for the governing authorities.

What I see is the beauty of the European Union though, that people can move and live anywhere, no real boundaries and no one really bothers them about where they come from. Elsaß-Lotharingen / Alsace & Lorraine are beautiful areas, I just love them, also for the mix of German and French cultures there.

Björn, There are multiple entrances and exits in Rodemack, and the ones I usually use don't have an alternative name. 

In the past week, I have used several other routes, and found what you were talking about. 

Cheers,
Bill

Comberjohn wrote:
Still think 100 miles an hour has a more magical ring to it than 160KPH(?).
That's usually the speed I cross the border at.

 It's true!

You'll just have to push on to 200kph CJ 

88KE wrote:

Comberjohn wrote:
Still think 100 miles an hour has a more magical ring to it than 160KPH(?).
That's usually the speed I cross the border at.

 It's true!

You'll just have to push on to 200kph CZ

You'll just have to push on to 200kph CJ CZ

Someone did 204kph at Tullamore yesterday.......seems they took the bike off him too. Ain't no motorway in Tullamore either.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:
Someone did 204kph at Tullamore yesterday.......seems they took the bike off him too. Ain't no motorway in Tullamore either.

It wasn't Tullamore and they never took the bike off me (even though Ditte was not far from doing it when realised it wasn't even 2 hours since we had left Dublin....)

indian036 wrote:

Björn, There are multiple entrances and exits in Rodemack, and the ones I usually use don't have an alternative name. 
In the past week, I have used several other routes, and found what you were talking about. 

Cheers,
Bill

Nice find, Bill! Even I wasn't quite sure of the spelling - Rodemack's not exactly the significance of Greater London

Björn wrote:It wasn't Tullamore and they never took the bike off me (even though Ditte was not far from doing it when realised it wasn't even 2 hours since we had left Dublin....)

There are times over here when my wife would like to take Vince's car away from me. The feeling usually comes in at around 180km/h!

Nikki was telling me recently that Rodemack has a population under 2000. I think London might be a bit bigger. 

Cheers,

Bill

indian036 wrote:Nikki was telling me recently that Rodemack has a population under 2000.

Just about the size Straußfurt. But surely the sausages are better that way Maybe we can put this to a test next year :-E:

(No, I'm not thinking about my tummy all the time. It is Gerda referring to the Free State of Thüringen as "Wurstland"). BTW have to ring Ronny to send over some sausages again

Björn wrote:Just about the size Straußfurt. But surely the sausages are better that way Maybe we can put this to a test next year :-E:

If you mean the sausages are better in Rodemack, you might be into wishful thinking!

Businesses consist of a pharmacy, an auberge and a very part-time restaurant. There is a very small building signed "communal distillerie", but I wouldn't hold out much hope for that.

I know the barbecue at my daughter's place works, though.

Cheers,

Bill

Bjorn might be bringing some bratwurst and puddings and things. My bbq fits in my top box. We like our meat ups! Photos wlll follow after the event!!

No, I was certainly thinking the other way around. Sauerkraut with bacon bits or quiche would be all right around Lorraine but as for Bratwurst - Thüringen is the place (as is Bavaria for beer or Austria for cakes). Or for that matter, Slovakia for Olaf's favourite dumplings

"Communal distillerie" sounds good, maybe some Calvados or other form of brandy done there? BTW Bill, if you drive over to Germany again (especially around Hessen / Frankfurt), look out for Asbach Uralt. The best Weinbrand (wine distillate, just like Cognac) ever made; compared to that, Hennessy is only a sort of cooking brandy

I'm not sure the communal distillery will be a lot of help to travelling bikies!    (lovely lady is my wife Lynette.)

Drive to Germany will have to wait till later in the year. I fly home tomorrow.   

Bill

That's an interesting building.

A touch like our first few stops when we did the first Norn Iron trip, we stopped in these car parks that all seemed to have similar buildings........

For those who might think 'Hotel de Ville' is French for 'the local hotel' in France that photo has me wondering is 'Distillerie Communale'  French for something completely different.....like those buildings in the car parks....

Bjorn, how did you know I use the Hennessy for cooking?

Bill, was great to see you over here and hope you will be back. Safe travels back home tomorrow.......

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:
For those who might think 'Hotel de Ville' is French for 'the local hotel' in France that photo has me wondering is 'Distillerie Communale'  French for something completely different.....like those buildings in the car parks....

Bill, was great to see you over here and hope you will be back. Safe travels back home tomorrow.......

Rodemack and many other places are too small for a Hôtel de Ville. We just have some girl called Mairie . . .

Olaf, thanks again for the pillion space, Simon for the guided tour, and everyone for the wonderful welcome I received. Truly fantastic. I will be back, but can't say when. Norn Iron would be great, but 'she who must be obeyed' has some plans for our next visit, though not with a date yet. Whats times are available for that will be the determiner.

Bets wishes to all Eccentrics,

Bill

went on a spending spree on Saturday, new camping gear!!! Really really looking forward to Ireland and so is my pillion (who hasn't done a massive amount of miles so that could be interesting! He coped pretty well the few times he has been on the back but he is a bit of a bugger for falling asleep and then headbutting me....) doing the welsh national rally next month so hopefully that will give me some practice with fitting all the camping gear and two peoples worth of stuff onto the bike, usually carry the tent on the pillion seat but it will need to be relocated now....i currently borrow a tent but am looking to buy, any suggestions? The one I use at the moment is a three man with a big porch which is ideal for stashing all the bike stuff in so similar size would be good!

I believe pop-up tents are easier to erect but seem to be awkward to stow away again. One thing is certain: make sure that outer shell is to erect first, and then the interior - my one is unfortunately the other way around which is not quite practical in damp weather.

As for the pillion falling asleep - and I have a wee bit of experience on that - I always have a luggage strap around our waists, just to be sure

Björn wrote:I believe pop-up tents are easier to erect but seem to be awkward to stow away again. One thing is certain: make sure that outer shell is to erect first, and then the interior - my one is unfortunately the other way around which is not quite practical in damp weather.

As for the pillion falling asleep - and I have a wee bit of experience on that - I always have a luggage strap around our waists, just to be sure

Never seen a video of someone putting a pop up tent away........

And definitely a tent that pitches flysheet first.

Get a loose goundsheet you can lay down inside it. Only then bring your panniers inside with all your stuff inside them. If its chucking rain you now have a nice dry surface to work on to put up the inner.

Tunnel tents are easier to erect single handed, but dome tents are more stable in that they will stay up without pegs and guys.

Loads of tents out there and some on sale too...all comes down to size and preference. As with everything else, you will get what you pay for and a cheap Tesco tent will give a short life and maybe a few damp patches.

I just upgraded to one of these:




I don't see me parking the K in the garage section, but it does make for a very nice living room with room for table and chairs and somewhere to hang wet bike gear. It is bulkier than my previous little tent and my latest stowage plan leaves no room for a pillion - so might not work for you Becky. It goes up flysheet first and is huge (for one camper).

Don't go a cheapo tent. We saw that last year at Nore Valley, we were all dry but the cheap tents on the camp site leaked. I don't mean mad money either, but min 3000mm HH, some are more which is even better.

Most Outwell/Vango/Coleman/Gelert etc are good but if going outside these look very closely. Bargain basement tents are that for a reason, no good for serious camping. The most pleasurable time is being out of a bad night in your tent and confident all will be well and no water in.

That Vango one BAE has is a nice one with good height and space to sit if you need to be inside on a wet evening. Its good on weight too. The weight is in the poles.....

Current one is a vango tunnel and really good, I think I will go for something similar! Bag is just a bit long to fit in the top box though so would like something a bit more compact really! That or I will just take it out of the bag and repack it in the top box....

Becky wrote:Current one is a vango tunnel and really good, I think I will go for something similar! Bag is just a bit long to fit in the top box though so would like something a bit more compact really! That or I will just take it out of the bag and repack it in the top box....

I was very happy with the tunnel tent I got. It doesn't have standing height but it has enough height for sitting on a chair.

I pack poles separately and they fit in the panniers at an angle. But they are Krauser K2 panniers, not BMW ones. Pack length will give you the pole length, check what size you can get in the BMW panniers or strap just the poles and put the rest inside. Tent inner, flysheet and groundsheet I pack separately so if needed I can get flysheet and poles first for pitching in wet while keeping the inner dry. As for repacking the tent in its original bag, difficult and on a wet day it won't happen.

Two up you need to look at packing but I had a pillion on a Norn Iron weekend and outside was one sleeping bag. Everything else for both of us was inside. But 2 Krauser K2 panniers and the top box add up to 124 litres [2 x 42 +40]. The BMW panniers and top box add up to 82 litres [2 x 30 + 22] so a significant difference. However I have done 2 weeks camping 2 up with only top box with a rack and tank bag. Just be ruthless. Sleeping bags are bulky but light so they can be rolled in a waterproof bag and strapped on top.

Wont be on the bmw though, poor bikey is still ill, will be on the yam! Which has slightly bigger panniers and a two helmet top box and a tank bag!

You should be fine. I forgot no Bikey.......

I miss him

Becky, if your poles are in their own little bag why don't you secure them separately to the tent by lying them along the top of the pannier strapped to the pannier handle (or make a little bag for them if you need to). The tent should then be able to be folded in such a way as to fit in the top box.

Cheers

One thing to keep in mid as well is if the inner or outer tent is pitched first, or if you can pitch them together, if the inner tent goes up first in the rain you might end up with a wet tent. 

As Gaz80 said, storing the poles separately might nicely reduce pack size.

Personally I prefer aluminium poles, they are usually lighter and don't break as easily, the fiberglass ones tend to splice open at the ends, especially when you put your tent up and down rather often. That said, I broke an aluminum pole last year and it was a pain to get it replaced, the fiberglass ones are available at many outdoor gear shops.

I figured time to bring this thread back to life as we will be looking for camping on a busy weekend.

Nore Valley have kept spaces for us before so I would like to give an approximate number. I will update the first post. Looks like Born Again Eccentric and Beck will arrive about 7.30pm on the Saturday evening. I am hoping to get along earlier but have a risk of a family occasion in Tullow, not far from Carlow, on the Saturday which could delay me. If that does crop up I may try and go up on the Friday and have a pitch space sorted. 

JediGirl?
Sagi?
Pat O'D?
Bjorn?

Won't be back from Scotland until 10th August I'm afraid. Enjoy the ride nonetheless!

I've just realised that as some are crossing from England to Ireland, on the same day I'm crossing from Ireland to Wales. Oh well.

Olaf. Can you maybe confirm your plan outline for the week?
Might be tempted to join up at some point towards the end of the week. Not camping though! 
Not while there's a good b&b nearby.

All depends on work, have holidays booked for 2 weeks in August, but have good chance of securing a new job at the moment which may mean that I have to adjust holiday planning, weekend should be fine anyhow and hopefully a bit more

I wish I could join you again.

Have fun, all.

Bill